Syrian Rebels Threaten to Withdraw From Ceasefire

Syria’s ceasefire has mostly held through the weekend, and managed to get an endorsement from the UN Security Council on Saturday. At the same time, however, rebels are threatening to withdraw from the pact soon, accusing the government of widespread violations.

At issue, as ever, is the status of al-Qaeda’s Nusra Front, which the rebels insisted are included in the truce, and the government insists are not. Syrian forces have continued to target Nusra and their allies throughout the ceasefire, and that is leading the rebels to demand Russia stop Syria from all strikes anywhere in the country or risk seeing the truce collapse.

The source of this confusion appears to be the language of the ceasefire excluding “UN-designated terrorist organizations.” While the Nusra Front is indeed such a group, they changed their official name over the summer, and the rebels are arguing that means they’re not technically terrorists anymore.

This was an inevitable source of dispute, as both sides were presenting totally different interpretations before the ceasefire even came into effect, and it’s not clear why either side thought they could leave the matter unresolved and not have it become an immediate risk to the ceasefire.

Either way, the hope is to keep the ceasefire together long enough to have some peace talks, but it’s totally unclear at this point whether that is possible or not, with Syrian forces eager to add to recent gains against Nusra while the rebels want to use the ceasefire as a way to stop the momentum and get Nusra and its allies, materially all of the non-ISIS rebels left in Syria, back on an even keel.

Author: Jason Ditz

7 thoughts on “Syrian Rebels Threaten to Withdraw From Ceasefire”

Information is not accurate. Cease fire exists ONLY between seven groups and the
Government. These groups signed three agreements — cease fire, soveregnity and territorial integrity of Syria, and participation in the political process. Al-Nusra under whatever name has NEVER asked to join or to sign these documents! So, what are they asking for? Just that NOBODY bombs them, while THEY should continue with their attrocities?

Besides their name change — did they ever expressed wkllingness to sign the three conditions? Of course not. But those that have shed a lots of tears over the fate of Al-Qaeda — are now throwing in some lawyerly tricks.

Now, it would be nice if Al-Nusra did not contaminate drinking water supply or cut off gas pipeline to cities. While this may have delighted their globalist supporters — it did not make them popular in Syria. They are terrorists — and that is what they do. Need I list ofher exploits of the renamed Al-Qaeda in the last few days? If they are serious about cease fire — they should have stopped the attrocities, such as attacking two Shia villages they have blocked in Idlib. Both Turkey and Russia are considering them terrorist organization. Turkey did not object to Russia and Syria liberating Aleppo from Al-Nusra. These are groups that committed horrible crimes against civilians — but since al-Nusea and affiates received and still receive salary, arms, ammunitions food, gas, vehicles, telecom and intelligence from US — why not also play these games? And for as long as we are giving them credibility — the joke is on us.

15.12.2016 Aleppo Victory… US and its Crime Partners Suffer ‘Meltdown of Sanity’

The US and its terrorist-sponsoring partners are seeing their criminal regime-change project in ruins, as the Syrian army and its allies win a spectacular victory to retake the strategically important city of Aleppo.

L. Patrick Lang, former head of DIA ME intel said it wasn’t going to happen the day it started because the Syrian army is serious and their Russian allies would never allow it to happen; plus the US JCOS would come to the conclusion Syria is not a worth a shooting war with Russia. Been in the cards all along.

Syria rebels threaten to withdraw from ceasefire? Absolutely not true. Al-Nusra never was part of the ceasefire — so it cannot “withdraw”. All three countries eponsoring peace talks are treating Al-Qaeda/Al-Nusra/Sham as terrorist organization. Now, Turkey has ai FIRM proof that ISIS and Al-Nusra are collaborating.

So far — no group that signed three agreements has withdrawn or violated ceasefire.

Why are we trying so hard to legitimise Al-Nusra and their associated groups? Their crimes against civilians are notorious for cruelty. Their very name a synonim for head choppers and organ eaters — well before ISIS came to the scene to turn the media lights to their barbarism, allowing Al-Nusra to ply their barbarism unnoticed — and bring prepped to emerge as “opposition”. Too bad for those that planned this conversion could not explain to their proteges the importance of good PR. So, in spite of providing them with some “journalists” and “bloggers”, “white helmets” and “local councils” — Al-Nusra could not be domesticated. Kidnapping, torture, public executions, head chopping recorded and immortalized for humanity — continued.

And now they are shocked — how come they are not included in the peace orocess? They and their appologists have an answer — they sre WITHDRAWING!